During a press conference in Chicago, Illinois, on Monday, several Texas Democratic state legislators accused federal law enforcement of surveilling their families in their absence.
When asked by a reporter if their "families are being watched" by the FBI or law enforcement back in Texas, every Democratic representative raised their hand.
State Rep. Josey Garcia (D) said: “What’s happening right now is criminal. None of us have committed a crime, yet we are public enemy number one to the FBI. Well, we know there’s pedophiles walking freely amongst them.”
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Garcia’s remark come in response to Senate Republican messaging against Texas's Democratic lawmakers.
Earlier this month, Lone Star State Democrats fled Texas to blue states — such as Illinois and New York — to deny quorum and block a controversial Republican redistricting effort.
In the week since this group of Texas lawmakers first arrived in Illinois, they have faced a series of attempts to bring them back home, including lawsuits and threats of arrest.
They were also compelled to move after bomb threats targeted their initial hotel in St. Charles.
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Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) stated that FBI Director Kash Patel approved assistance to locate or arrest the absent lawmakers.
“I am proud to announce that Director Kash Patel has approved my request for the FBI to assist state and local law enforcement in locating runaway Texas House Democrats,” Cornyn said in a statement Thursday.
But during their public appearance on Monday, the lawmakers remained defiant, refusing to return — for now, at least.
Meanwhile, back in Austin on Monday, the Texas House of Representatives was technically scheduled for a second reading of the redistricting bill. However, without the required quorum, the session could not proceed, according to ABC 7 Chicago.
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) is now threatening to redraw the map yet again to further disadvantage Democrats.
"I'm authorized to call a special session every 30 days. It lasts 30 days, and as soon as this one is over, I'm gonna call another one, then another one, then another one, then another one. If they show back up in the state of Texas, they will be arrested and taken to the Capitol," Abbott told Fox News Monday.
Watch the video of Rep. Garcia's remarks below, or by clicking this link.